New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-16

The Old Naval Officer" whose long experience and
familiarity with all the facts of the case entlo his
opinions Difference and respect SMILED sadly yester
day whom tho letter OF Con uandcr ONeil was shown
to him Being urged to give his opinion as 10 its state
ments, he said:
That letter shows n delberation of composition and
literary style not often In the Naval service.
The writer has given bill of particulars which Is ~
remarkabe Tor evasons OF things that have been
charged In TIE TRIBUNE for the total ignoring OF
other and essential allegations IL not requi-
site to enter into a technical discussion with Com
mander ONeil, but briefly possible will answer
each statement ia turn.
Il In regard to the detention al the Navy Yard the
Atlanta It is true. has not had her steam machinery
ready but has her ordnance been read, Carpenters
we're at work laying out the tracks tor the gun caI-
Iiages when she brought into tue Yard on July 10
to 20 into commission. They have been at work ever
since and still her ordnsnce IL not ready, as Will be
shown further She 10 not ready yet, ana the dc
iect in the steam geanng which could have been rem-
edied in month alter her first trial. has been rem
edicd, | would like TO know whether her detention
could he put down TO construction or ordinances Ihey
have shoudered the blame on the construction ana
lett the public to think the ordnance was perfect.
"l2) lie says Il will BE- news TO tho service that the
Bureau of Ordnance the object OF considerable 'r
els H. and asserts that plumbers have been commit
ted. Every issue OF The Army aud Navy Jour nal
March - has tecned with Criticisms from
Naval officers, both line and stah. OF tue Ordnance
Bu eau, its arbitrary M thods and its especial unht-
ness IA displayed by its lack OF the knowledge OF
metaurgy It's work on the Atlanta IL q hitting
sample its ability and proves everything that has
been charged against il. No blunders, ell ! we'll
wen further on.
"(3) A casual observer on board the Atlanta today
could have failed observe the pivot guns blocked
up ready for removal from the positions which have
cost time aud trouble and money to put them in in
order to NEEDY the defects OF the carriage tracks
The cghtinch pivot guns cannot be trained except oy
hand when ship heels because OF the binding
OF the carriages the tracks. And yet four ensihes
bought by the inventive young Lieutenant Tor the
pun pose board pnd of earthly use because OIL
the miscalcuations OF the Ordnance Bureau. Before
they can even be worked by hand ii is necessary to
throw out the steam gear.
"il This relates the fact that the battery shows
no Improvement despite the tinkering.' Now, Just
read over the answer and II Is an answer what
on earth have the dynamos to do WITH inc battery !
Besides, which dynamo does he mean lhere arc TWO
board, one under charge OF the bureau Oh NaViSa
tion tnc other search light III charge oil the oru-
nance Bnrgau What has it to dc with htting the
guns Tho tact that the immense oght-nch guns arc
blocked no Tor removal after the Bureau has been
working since Jul, shows Il at the department Is right
where II begun.
"l5.l In regarl TO the copper rvets, look ut the
answor. Does Commander O'Neil mean 10 say tn"'
the copper rives do not so through the bronze
through the wooden deck aud through the steel decks
underneath which they ure cnohedf what an
evasion
"i6) My name does not matter. don't want 10 DO
transported TO the China Station but do want to see
the service benefited by few healthy eriucSms.
Commander Omen gives what lie calls the exact
statement as to tho riyes. The tact that the SIX 'noh
guns still fastened with copper riVcts Is III l.sel
gross bunder and detect aud tho sooner they JERK
them the better. The six inch guns are ai uhnet
the supsrstructure Tnis covered deck H. hoys oheu
every day. and IL is only question oil une whS lac
rivets Will be eaten away ny gaiVah hcVl2h uuo ~
the contact copper aud steel w.t. with salt water,
This browning proof OF the ignorance OF metarsy
| displayed. Commander UNei leays The reader %
later that the copper rives were found to DO too weak